Plato's Myths

A collection of essays by eminent philosophers examining the ways in which Plato's most famous myths are interwoven with his philosophy.

Catalin Partenie (Edited by)

9780521887908, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 12 February 2009

272 pages
23.5 x 16 x 1.8 cm, 0.57 kg

'… illuminating … an informative study in art history.' Polis

In archaic societies myths were believed to tell true stories - stories about the ultimate origin of reality. For us, on the contrary, the term 'myth' denotes a false belief. Between the archaic notion of myth and ours stands Plato's. This volume is a collection of ten studies by eminent scholars that focus on the ways in which some of Plato's most famous myths are interwoven with his philosophy. The myths discussed include the eschatological myths of the Gorgias, the Phaedo, the Republic and Laws 10, the central myths of the Phaedrus and the Statesman, and the so-called myth of the Noble Lie from the Republic. The mythical character of the Timaeus cosmology is also amply discussed. The volume also contains seventeen rare Renaissance illustrations of Platonic myths. The contributors argue that in Plato myth and philosophy are tightly bound together, despite Plato's occasional claim that they are opposed modes of discourse.

List of illustrations
List of contributors
Preface
Acknowledgements
List of abbreviations
Introduction Catalin Partenie
1. Plato's eschatological myths Michael Inwood
2. Myth, punishment and politics in the Gorgias David Sedley
3. Tale, theology and teleology in the Phaedo Gábor Betegh
4. Fraternité, inégalité, la parole de Dieu: Plato's authoritarian myth of political legitimation Malcolm Schofield
5. Glaucon's reward, philosophy's debt: the myth of Er G. R. F. Ferrari
6. The charioteer and his horses: an example of Platonic myth-making Christopher Rowe
7. The myth of the Statesman Charles H. Kahn
8. Eik?s muthos M. F. Burnyeat
9. Myth and eschatology in the Laws Richard Stalley
10. Platonic myth in Renaissance iconography Elizabeth McGrath
Suggested further reading
Bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: Western philosophy: Ancient, to c 500 [HPCA], Classical history / classical civilisation [HBLA1], Literary studies: classical, early & medieval [DSBB]